Property taxes to pay for Lincoln County school improvementswill be going up as the bill on a $3.8 million bond issue comes duelater this year.

While the tax levy to support general county operations remainsundetermined, a preliminary budget discussed at Monday’ssupervisors meeting calls for a 6.35-mill increase for LincolnCounty School District operations. The increase means districtproperty owners will be paying about $6.35 more on every $1,000 ofassessed value of property they own.

“The biggest chunk of that is on an elected bond issue. It hitsthis year,” said County Administrator David Fields.

In September 2002, voters overwhelmingly approved a $3.8 millionbond issue to fund improvements at Lincoln County’s four schools.All the schools are getting some work done as part of theproject.

With the increase, the school district tax levy is scheduled togo from 46.18 mills this year to 52.53 mills next year. The taxlevy is expected to bring in $3.27 million, an increase of $351,000over this year.

Supervisors have no authority in determining school fundinglevels, but they are required to set a tax levy that is sufficientto bring in the requested amount.

On the county operations side of the budget, supervisors tooksteps Monday to limit any needed tax increase next year. Thecurrent tax levy for county operations is 38.30 mills.

Supervisors rejected increased funding for a variety of agenciessupported by the county. Combined, the organizations had requestedabout $100,000 more next year.

District 3 Supervisor and Board President Nolan Earl Williamsonwas skeptical of the county being able to raise support fundingabove the current $1.44 million.

“I don’t see how you can,” Williamson said. “It’s going to haveto stay the same.”

In personnel matters, Fields informed the board that individualinsurance premiums would not be going up but the county’s insurancewould. Williamson said not having to pay more in insurance would belike a raise for county employees.

In actual compensation, supervisors voted 3-2 to give $50 amonth cost of living raises to employees.

Williamson and District 5 Supervisor Gary Walker opposed themotion. Williamson said he hated to sound like a “grump.”

“It might not pay as much as they want, but it’s a job andthey’ve got insurance,” Williamson said about working for thecounty. “A lot of people out there don’t have that.”

The preliminary budget discussed Monday included a 2.11-millincrease. However, Fields said the action regarding limitingsupport agency funding would likely reduce that number to less thantwo mills.

The overall budget projects total county spending next year at$10.8 million, up about $263,000 from $10.6 million this year.

Fields said the overall increase was about 2.48 percent,although some budget areas such as the jail were budgeted forhigher percentage increases. He cited meals and medical costs asfactors.

“Our jail costs are going really high,” Fields said.

Williamson mentioned the possibility of a bond issue for bridgeimprovements.

“Our main issue is bridges,” Williamson said. “We can’t startaddressing it until we get more money.”

With Monday’s changes, Fields was expected to revise totals andsupervisors were scheduled to meet again Wednesday to talk aboutrevenue and spending plans.

Property tax notices go out in December and property owners haveuntil Feb. 1 to pay the bill without penalty.

One potential budget savings Monday came when supervisorsapproved the King’s Daughters Medical Center’s Emergency MedicalServices’ plan to apply for a new ambulance through a special leaseprogram. Government Acquisitions Inc. provides emergency servicesvehicles to communities in exchange for advertising that is placedon the vehicles.

“We’re going to take the next step and fill out an application,”said Tony Lambert, KDMC assistant EMS director. “Based on that,we’ll see where we go from there.”

Lambert said the EMS should know in about 30 days whether thevehicle application is approved.

The plan could save as much as $25,000. When purchasing anambulance, Lambert said KDMC asks the city and county to eachcontribute one-third, or about $25,000, and the hospital providesthe remainder.

“We’re hoping this eliminates that subsidy for the ambulancepurchase,” Lambert said.

In other business Monday, supervisors approved board attorneyBob Allen contacting Georgia-Pacific and Denbury Resourcesregarding District 3 road damage caused by the companies’tree-cutting and oilfield activities. Allen said the companies havea right to use county roads, but also to assist in theirupkeep.

“If they destroy or damage a road, they get to assist in payingfor it,” Allen said.